Living in Texas

[Fobulous]

Looks like I am moving to Texas this fall to go back to school to do my MBA. Although I am extremely excited, I find my self extremely nervous as I have lived my entire life in Calgary. I love it here but I am definitely interested in moving someplace else to test the waters...

Any feedback for how life is in Texas/USA? Is it a huge culture shock? Anyone regret moving away from Calgary?

I have visted the states on numerous occasions and have always enjoyed my time there; however, that was different as it was always a vacation and I knew I was coming back home.

Any feedback or insights are greatly apprecaited!

Thanks in advance.
-FoB.

[Byrns]

I loved Whataburger when I was in Houston.

http://www.whataburger.com/

[The Goon]

Which part of Texas? Houston and Dallas are both huge cities, but if you're going to UT Austin, that place doesn't have as much of a Texas feel.

While there's certainly a bit of a redneck feel if you're looking for it, I've found that Texans are among the most friendly and hospitable people I've met anywhere. If they find out you're a non-native, they'll have you over for dinner or take you out for drinks.

Hope you like football.

[Fobulous]

I am a huge football fan so I am looking forward to that.

I am going to be living an hour and a half away from Houston, TX in the town of College Station, TX where I will be going to school at Texas A&M.

[dre]

I traveled a lot in the US. I found that certain parts of Texas reminded me of Alberta. I did get stuck north of Texas once because of a Tornado, that was a shock to me. I remembered that they had great burgers in Texas, too. I would live there. Good luck and have fun. Congrats.

[The Goon]

Originally Posted by Fobulous

I am a huge football fan so I am looking forward to that.

I am going to be living an hour and a half away from Houston, TX in the town of College Station, TX where I will be going to school at Texas A&M.

The Texas - Texas A&M rivalry is huge, so definitely go to one of their games.

Most importantly - really, really hot student body.

[nickerjones]

Originally Posted by Fobulous

I am a huge football fan so I am looking forward to that.

I am going to be living an hour and a half away from Houston, TX in the town of College Station, TX where I will be going to school at Texas A&M.

Even though the aggies suck at football now ... I love going to sooner games in aggieland... All the military guys standing and swaying and chanting is cool. A lil scary when your at the top cause it feels like the structure is moving

[Table 5]

Not sure I would be too worried about culture shock. You're coming from Canada's Texas after all....so a lot of the same things you find in Alberta will be there too (oil, beef, trucks) just bigger and probably more brash.

[Azure]

Yeah, out of all the provinces in Canada, Alberta is the most like Texas.

[CaptainCrunch]

I lived in Dallas for 2 years, and I loved it. There's never a shortage of stuff to do. The people were really friendly to us as Canucks, and at the time beer and food was pretty cheap.

When I lived in Dallas we could find a different bar each night. There was a complex of bars in downtown Dallas called Dallas Alley, all the bars were underground and linked so you could take your drinks from bar to bar.

We went to watch the Cowboys play, went to Southport ranch or whatever its called, and side trips to corpus cristi and mexico were like day trips.

We lived in Irving and interestingly enough prohabition was never repealed there it was a dry county.

Texas-OK rivalry weekend is a must participate.

There was a 6 flags in Dallas that was a lot of fun.

The woman were definately nicer then the Canadian variety, not just in looks but they were friendlier.

We actually went to watch an international bantam hockey tournament as well that featured a team from Toronto that eventually won the tourney after initiating a bench clearing brawl where half the players were thrown out.

I would assume Billy-Bobs in Fort Worth is still going as well.

Go watch the Astro's play some ball, there's nothing like the major league experience.

[texanadian]

Moved to Houston 3 years ago, after growing up in the real Cowtown (Calgary, not Fort Worth), and love it down here.

There are definitely unique things about each of the cities. So depending on where you're moving there could be small differences but in a broad sense, these are my experiences.

Not a huge cultural difference as Alberta and Texas tend to have some similar reputations. Like The Goon said, the people are super friendly (when they aren't on the freeway) and very hospitable. I would have a hard time moving back with all of the incredible friends we have here.

I know for me, cost of living has gone way down, and not paying state income tax is pretty awesome. As always, it's cheaper to live in the burbs, but you'll pay for it with a lengthy commute.

Food is great, but be careful of portion sizes. They are "generous" to put it nicely. I eat so much Mexican food now, that I can't imagine how I went most of my life without it.

If you're a big outdoors-y person (hiking, skiing, etc) it might be a bit harder, because outside of hunting there isn't a ton to do outdoors without quite a drive. September 1 is virtually a state holiday.

One less obvious benefit is that DFW and IAH are big airline hubs so flights to almost anywhere are usually great deals. Lots of travel options.

There's definitely differences, but I didn't go through as big of a shock as I had expected. If you need anymore advice I'll try and help.

[Hevishot]

Castle Doctrine and Concealed Carry Permits Enjoy!

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Azure

Yeah, out of all the provinces in Canada, Alberta is the most like Texas.

Calgary is the most like Denver.

[Barnes]

I've been to Houston once. I got a stock pot filled with seafood including a one pound Maine lobster and shrimp the size of a baseball for 21 dollars.

I could definitely live there.

[texanadian]

Originally Posted by Barnes

I've been to Houston once. I got a stock pot filled with seafood including a one pound Maine lobster and shrimp the size of a baseball for 21 dollars.

I could definitely live there.

That reminds me. Crawfish boils, FTW.

[Locke]

I've heard rave reviews of public executions, you should look into attending one of those...

[Azure]

You can own all the guns you want.

Whats not to like?

[an_album_cover]

I loved Houston when I went down this summer. That said, I would be insanely fat if I lived there.

[CaptainCrunch]

I remember I went into a target in Dallas, and managed to wander over to the gun section. I saw and fell in love with the desert Eagle (Hey it came with a video tape). I asked the guy behind the counter what I needed to buy it thinking, ID, paper work for a criminal background check etc. He looked me square in the eye and said Cash or Cheque. As a Canadian I walked out of the store with a Desert Eagle Pistol in about 10 minutes.

[amorak]

Originally Posted by troutman

Calgary is the most like Denver.

Quoted for 100% truth